The Secret Christmas Diary of a Pregnant Mum

1. The Secret Christmas Diary of a Pregnant Mum Whatever stage of pregnancy you're at - Christmas will be probably be a very different experience this year - here Marianne Johnstone reveals what it's really like to be pregnant over the festive period.... December 18: I'm over the moon about being pregnant - but certain aspects of Christmas don't seem nearly so appealing at the moment! For a start alcohol is off limits - pregnant women are advised to avoid all alcohol throughout pregnancy as it may harm their baby's development; so it's orange juice and lemonade for me this year. I reckon it's only fair on the baby though. December 19: It's the office Christmas bash tomorrow and we're going for a four course meal at a French restaurant. I've already checked the menu though - I'm not allowed mould-ripened soft cheeses such as brie and camembert and some goat's cheeses because of the risk of listeria, which can cause food poisoning and harm the baby. Other soft blue cheeses are out too, including my favourites Danish Blue and gorgonzola. Luckily, it's still safe to eat hard cheeses in pregnancy though. I also have to be aware of the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite found in undercooked meat and unpasteurised goat's milk. So there'll be no steak tartare for me and liver and liver pate are off-limits too, as too much vitamin A can cause birth defects. My midwife also said it's safer to avoid raw or undercooked eggs and dishes containing them such as mousse or mayonnaise because they could be contaminated with salmonella. Parma ham, chorizo and pepperoni also have to be eaten with caution, that's because they're not cooked just cured or fermented. Pregnant women also have to limit how much tuna they eat to no more than two tuna steaks or four medium cans a week, because of the high levels of mercury in tuna, which can cause birth defects. Other foods to avoid include raw shellfish. Oily fish should be limited to no more than two portions a week. It's a lot to get your head round! December 20: I had a delicious meal at the Christmas party, but because we ate so late and the food was quite rich - I suffered really awful acid reflux indigestion afterwards. In my pregnancy manual it says pregnant women are more prone to it. December 21: I tried some last minute Christmas shopping but gave up after an hour - even though I'm only 18 weeks pregnant I felt exhausted quite quickly. I've found I've not been up for too much socialising after work either as I'm a lot more tired than usual. December 22: I've just been given a date for my 20 week scan but it's for the New Year and I'd really like to be seen before Christmas so I've decided to book an anomaly scan privately with Ultrasound Direct. I can't wait until the NHS appointment and think it would be reassuring to check the baby is okay before Christmas.

2. December 22: The 40 minute anomaly scan included growth measurement and a detailed check of the baby's anatomy - so we saw the baby's organs are all developing normally. It was such a relief and exciting to see the baby close up. The scan can also tell the sex of the baby but we decided we didn't want to find out - that would be like knowing what we've got for Christmas before the big day and ruin the surprise, but I can see why people are tempted. Part of the package was seeing the baby moving around in 4D FREEVIEW™ - it will be great to show all the family the DVD. December 25: We had a fabulous Christmas Day and talked about what it will be like next year when the baby is having their first Christmas. I've tried not to eat big portions or too close to bedtime, as I want to avoid indigestion when I lie down. December 28: I've had some griping tummy pains over the last few days - I know it's probably just indigestion from attacking the cheese board, but I'd like some reassurance, so I've rung Ultrasound Direct again to arrange a quickAssure™Scan for peace of mind. December 30:We've had the quickAssure™Scan. It took just 15 minutes and checked the baby's heartbeat and movement and everything was fine. It was well worth it and I'm much less anxious and looking forward to celebrating the New Year now (without a glass of champagne!) - But hey never mind -there's always next year. • www.ultrasound-direct.com For more information on Ultrasound Direct Dudley scans visit our website at